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It appears that Jayson Werth may have lit a fire under Teddy and the Nationals.

Werth’s call for Nats management to let Teddy Win drew the attention of NBC 4 and The Washington Post yesterday, in addition to a slew of online chatter; so all eyes were on Teddy at the start of Sunday’s race at Nationals Park.

Roosevelt had an unusually strong start, and surged mid-way through the race to take the lead into the home stretch. Rather than fade as usual, Teddy kept his momentum, but was passed by George Washington at the wire.

Werth did not come out of the dugout to watch.

In the wake of Werth’s public criticism, Teddy’s tweets included “Jayson I’m trying!,” and “Sooo close I could taste it today!! I’ve gotta good feeling about tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, on MASN’s TV broadcast, color commentator F. P. Santangelo upped the ante. “Teddy’s going to win tomorrow,” he declared after today’s race. “That’s my call, and I’m sticking to it.” He repeated the prediction later in the broadcast.

With Roy Halladay scheduled to take the mound for the Phillies Monday, Nats fans may need something to celebrate.